The San Pasqual Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in northern San Diego County, California. It is located in the San Pasqual Valley of the Peninsular Ranges, in Southern California. San Pasqual Valley was the fourth wine region to be designated an American Viticultural Area when the AVA was created in 1981. The AVA is encroached on by the cities of San Diego, Poway, and Escondido, resulting in relatively high land values but limited viticultural potential.

Climate

The AVA belongs to Region IV on the Winkler scale. The climate in this appellation is desert-like but tempered by cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean, with long growing seasons (average temperatures above 50 °F year-round), warm winters with nighttime lows rarely dipping below 35 °F, and summers with daily highs rarely exceeding 95 °F. With cooler evenings and granite-based soils that drain well, grapes from this area are able to retain their colors and balanced acidity.

Vineyards

The area is planted with a wide range of Vitis vinifera with Grenache, Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo and Viognier being some of the most widely planted. The AVA is defined roughly to include the valleys formed by the San Dieguito River and its tributaries. San Pasqual AVA is one of California's oldest. The terrain is varied, rocky with many microclimates. The elevations range from 500 of 1500 feet. Nearby "Grape Day Park" features "Grape Day Festival" every September to celebrate the harvest time. The festival was established in 1908. There are over 16 commercial vineyards in this AVA